Cradle of Evil: Osteogenic Niche for Early Bone Metastasis

Bone metastasis often emerges long after the initial dissemination of cancer cells. In this issue of Cancer Cell, Wang and colleagues demonstrate that disseminated breast cancer cells engage osteogenic niches in the bone through heterotypic adherins junctions. This interaction activates mTOR signaling in cancer cells and supports their expansion to micrometastases. Bone metastasis often emerges long after the initial dissemination of cancer cells. In this issue of Cancer Cell, Wang and colleagues demonstrate that disseminated breast cancer cells engage osteogenic niches in the bone through heterotypic adherins junctions. This interaction activates mTOR signaling in cancer cells and supports their expansion to micrometastases.